Circular-knitting machine.



PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906. J. B. PAXTON & B. I. ONEILL.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT.30,1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

J. B. PAXTON E. I. ONBILL. CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3|), 1903.

WITNESS S: ENTORS jaw flfiwa J. B. PAXTON dz E. I. O'NEILL CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.30,1003.

5 SHEET -SHEBT 4 176.1

WITNESSES PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906.

No. 811,577 w 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5 i VENT-0R5 /lr6u a: a

01214 \9. ADM-22.

PATENTED FEB. 6, 1906. J. B. PAXTON dz E. I. ONEILL.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mum SEPT. 30,-1903.

" eration isaccomplished by cams which sulli- :lloated acrossthe spar occupied by the needles by which it is not kmt.

' once in the structure of the needles of the two 'ccrtain new and useful improvements in (irwve have shown and will describe as we have dles knits only with one thread; while the sorting of the needles into their different UNrrir n srfria JOHN ll. PAX'ION AND ELLIS I a first" thrice.

Specification of Letters latent.

TING: WlfliCi-HNE,

Patented Feb. 6, 1906.

Application filed September 30, 1903. Serial No. 175,244.

To 11 7] whom, if Trmy (JOII/(HIH:

Be it known that we, JOHN B. PA more, residing at No. 3-331 Saunders street, and thus 1. ONnnm, residing at No. IHLH Venaugo street, in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cular-Knitting Machines, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

()ur. improvements relate primarily to certain means which we have invented whereby we produce vcrtically-striped knitting. 'ihis applied it to a circulair-stocking knitter, it being, however,understood thatthe same proc ess ol'knitting and similar means for accomplishing it may be employed in other varieties of knittinganachincs.

According to our invention the striping opcio'ntly separate two sets of needle so that the stitch-forming depression of the two sets of needles is effected separiltely by two substantially parallel stitch-cams, both of which cams deliver the'needlcs of their set to the same cam to be rcraised to their normal level. By feeding a different thread to the needles of each series itresults that one series of nee other series knits only with the other thread, the non-kmttmg thread being in each case This process of knitting we have described and claimed in an application forllnited States Letters Patent tiled simultaneously herewith as Serial No. 175,245., As described in that application the separation of the two sets of needles to cause them to pursue different stitch-forming paths does not necessarily involve any differscts, for their sorting may be accomplished by any known means. We preler, however, in ordcrto the more readily accomplish the paths to employ classified nee(lles--that is to some half-le11gth butts. We have also de vised means whereby both the separation of the needles and their separate stitch'forming depression is accomplished within the region r of anordinary set of reciprocatory knittingcams and with but slight modilications or additions to the same.

in the accompanying drawings we have illustrated the cam-cylinder of a knitting-niachine embodying our invention, but to avoid complication have omitted any detailed represcntation of the iicedle-eylinder and nee dlcs and automatic pickers for finishing the heel and toe of the stockingand various other wellknown parts, deeming it only necessary to show-in detail those special elements which directly comprise the features of invention and the relation of said elements to the usual components of this class of knitt ngmachines.

in said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a cam cylinder embodying our improvemcnts.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the interior surface thereof, developed upon a plane. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the latchguard, with its thrcad-cyes,developed upon a plane, with diagrammatic lines indicatingthe moven'icnt of the needle groups with refcrence to the thread-eyes. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatie view illustrating the needle groups themstlves in the respective positions which they occupy at a given moment in circular knitting. Fig. 5 isa plan view of the sinker ring with the sinkers and needles in s tu. Figs. 6, '7', and 8 are detail views of the sinkercams. Fig.- 9 is a cross-section taken at l) U, Fig. 2. Figs. 10 to 16, mclusne, are detail views ofthe switch-up cam audits actuating say, needles of two'difl'crent sorts, one-sort eorrespomling to one set and the other to the other set. ln'the embodiment of our invention which we have illustrated this ditl'crcnce between the needles takes the form of a difference in the length of the 1i(e(lle'lllltts, some of the needles having full-length and special stitch-cam. The depth of all of these. cams is such that they engage both short and long butt ncedlcs,with the exception that the leading stitch-cam A has a transcverse channel formed across its lllll l' tace, as indicated at u,wlnch, because it has not the full radial tion. erative at all,it must be operative upon all the passed into the channel through the opening at the front end thereof.- Said channel-wall a terminates downwardly at a .level whichisbelow the upper end of t'hespecial stitch- 'cam A, the general inclination and lower limit of which corresponds with the adjacent down-throwing edge of the following stitchcam-A". This supplemental or special stitchcam A is therefore the loop-forming stitch camfor the short-butt needlestwhich have passed throu h the channel a, while the corresponding edge of the following stitch-cam A performs that function for the long-butt needles. Both sets of needles are raised again to the normal level by the return-way formed between the stitch-cam A and the ledge-cam A. In continuous-circular knitting ,the under or real-face a of the leading stitch-cam A is of course non-operative, the function of said rear face being'only called into play during the process of reciprocatory knitting, as during the widenin and narrowing opera Whenever said rear face is to be op needles,,whet her they ave lon or short butts, and hence at such times the channel must be closed at the end corresponding to said rear face, since otherwise the short-butt needles would ont he return reciprocation only descend along the facet], until they reached the opening of the channel a and would then pass into the same, thus escapin complete depression. We therefore com ine with said rear face a of the leading stitch-cam A a movable ate-cam A by which the o enin b 7 p b of the channel a at that end can be closed when desired. The details of the gate-.cam A and its mounting devices are shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 9. By reference to these views it will be seen that an elongated slot a is formed through the wall of the cam-cylinder immediately beneath the face a extending 'from the upper limit thereof to a point below the lower edge of the channel a. The gatecam A itself consists of an elongated strip fitting snugly in said slot and capable of pro jectionbund withdrawal through the same. The gate-cam is mounted upon a horizontal stem a, slidin lon itudinally in a boss a 'upon the outer face of the cam-cylinder A, said stem having at its outer end a milled head a? .lor convenience of handling and being maintained in its extreme inner and outer siti'ons by a spring-actuated detent a", havi'pg a rounded end which engages lightly with either of two shallow depressions a, a

5 formed in the periphery of the stem (1", so that by the application of moderate force in a longitudinal direction the stem may be shifted in or out of the relation to the wall of the cylinder, but will be held against accidental dis placement.

depth of the leading stitch-cam A. Hence The radial depth of the gatecam A is substantially equal to. the full radia-l' when the said gate-cam is protruded into the cam-cylinder it presents a continuous surface for engagement with all of the needles irrespective of the length of their butts, so that the rear face of the leading stitch-cam is operative upon both sets of needles during the reverse motion of receprocation. By the cod eration of the parts thus far described it wi 1 therefore be understood that if the needlecylinder is set so as to contain groups of long and short butt needles n alternation and if the camcylinder is crntinously rotated in the normal direction all the needles of the long-butt set will be operated upon by the stitch-cams in the usual manner for ordinary knitting,'while all the short-butt needles, by reason of their entering groove (1, will fail to receive the preliminary advance necessary to cause them to throw off their loops below their latches beforethey'perform their stitch-forming descent. This of course would prevent the short butt needles from knitting. In order to provide for the preliminary advance of these.

needles, we insert in advance of the stitchcams aspecial group of cams, (indicated at A7, A and A .Of these A is a guard-cam of usual construction. A is a cam set in'the needlegroove, so as to compel the advance of all the needles as they passover it to the point which throws the loops which theycarry below the latches. A is the returningcam, which is slidingl'y mounted within a slot' It is. supported and manipulated in a manner simi-, ,lar to that just described in connection w th A in the wall of the cam-cylinder.-

thecam A, the supporting-stem for said cam A being indicated on Fig. 1 at A The radial depth of all of these three-cams A A A is such as to come into engagement with all of the needles. As far as the long-butt needles are concerned, its function is unnecessary but harmless, simply resulting in the loops upon'these needles being thrown below the latches a little in advance of the usual point. For the short-butt needles, however, its function is essential, as otherwise, for the reasons heretofore explained, they would not be advanced sufficiently to throw their loops below theii latches, and consequently would not knit. The function of the cam A when protruded into the cylinder is to return all of the needles to the normal level, so as to msure the entrance of the short-butt needles into the groove a. order that'd uring reciprocatory knitting,when it is desired that all of the needles shall knit with the same thrcad,it may be withdrawn, so that all of the needles will during reverse mo- It is made removable in tion be passed over cain A and be depressed F each other in alternating groups arranged by the ccntercani A" and the following stitch cain A. i A" is a movable jack-cam, which can be adjusted in either of the two positions indicated by the solid and dotted lines of Fig. 2. The depth of this can] is such as to engage all oi the needles. venient to place the cams A A", and A" at the point where the cam A is situated, the presence and function of this latter cam y In our machine, however, owing to the presence of automatic picker inechanisn'i, (not shown, but occupying the cutaway portion of the can'i-cylind er which appears in Fig. 2 in the region of the stitch-cams,) We have not found it convenient to place the cams A A A so near to the stitch-cams. During reciprocatory knitting, however, it is sometimes necessary that the i elevation of the sl'iort-l'iutt needles preparatory to their StlttJl'l-f()1'fllllig depression shall occur at a less distance from the stitch-cams than is the cam A otherwise as the cylinder reciprocates some of these short-butt needles might enter the channel a without prelimi- V In order to prevent this contingency, we provide the cam A", which during reciprocatory knitting is elevated to its full extent, but is otherwise depi essedto its inoperative position.

lteeapitulating what has already been stated, it will be understood that during orknittiiig when truded, the cam A is depressed, and the cam A withdrawn. ()n'the other hand, during reciprocation when plain knitting only is to be produced the-cam. A" is withdrawn, the

cam i elevated, and the cam A protruded.

We will next describe the thread-guides and the process of knittingwhereby we produce vertical stripes by the use of our device.

An upright post fast to the cam-cylinder carries the usual latch-guard l).. (See Figs. 3 and 5:) This latch-guardis pierced by-two threadguides.

rl is the usual slotted thread-guide, l'eeding thread under thehooks oi the needles which are being depressed by the following stitchrain I 7 ll is a second thread-guide formed on the.

lower edge of thc latch-guard a little in ad vance ol' (I and feeding thread under the hooks oi the needles which are Iicingdcpressed by the special stitch-cam A.

l'l reference now be had to Fig. 4, it will be observed that the needles are divided into two sets, (distinguished by the light or heavy line representing them.) The light lines represent the short-butt needles and the heavy lines the long butt needles.

If it were niechanicall y con- 'llieso two kinds o'l" nee les are interspersed among stripes which are to be knit.

the back of each stripe.

according to the desired pattern for the Threads which may d'itl'cr in color, texture, or otherwise are fed through the two tliread-guii'les. r l I.

l. he thread which is ted throughd is engaged by the hooks oi the shortbiitt needles only and knit bv them, while the thread whiclif is Fed through d is engaged by the hooks ol' the long-butt needles only and knit by theini Each thread is heated across the spaces occupied by the needles withwh'ich it is not engaged ind knit, the lloa-t-thriaids passing to the back oi the fabric at the point corre sponding to the base of the fo lowing stitchcain A, where all of the needles are depressed to their utmost extent, so that as the needles rise again under the iutluence of the lGdQE'L'ZLIIl A? they are in 'lront ol' the float-threads. 'lhe result is. a striped knit fabric of ordinary knitting with lloat-thriaids of the opposite color or kind running across In Fig. =1 the line which each of these threads takes as it runs under the hooks ol the descending needles is indicated, the thread from d being ettered c and the thread from it being lettered a. It.

will be seen that although the thread (1 runs by a straight line to the point where it is knit the thread c is upwardly deflected before. it reaches the stitch-i orniing point. This is accon'iplished by a special motion of the sinkers, which we will now describe.

'lhesinkers 8 (shown in outline in Fig. 7

and also indicated by the short lilies in Fig. 4) are of the pivoted or tilting variety, with tllG'iIiftllCl'Llll'l in a groove s in the needle-cylinder. jcct out into the plane oi 'a sinker-rii'ig S, titted with sinker-cams t t 23 Of these t is the main sinker-can], which ellccts the withdrawal of the sinkcrs from the knitting-line in the region where the stitch-forming opera tion takes place. if ii are guard-cains. cani t is of unusual construction in that it is made with a depressitni I." about in its center, said depression being opposed to an auxiliary cam 25*, which causes thc'sinkers to womentarily advance and retract. just before they reach the point where the thread 0 is led to the short-butt needles. 'lhis movement will be best understood by observing the succes sive positions of the sinkers as ilhistrated in Figs. 4 and WV'ithout the use of this aux: ilial'y cain if we have experienced Sullititlllllcult'y in the operation o'l our device unless the thread e is led under considerabie ten sions a. slackening ol' the thread, which occa- Ihe rear arins' s oi the sinkers pro- The i sionally permits this thread to be caught or passed by the open latches of the long-butt needles, with the eii'ect of its being drawn intothe knitting at the wrong place. The momentary advance of the sinkers occasioned by the cam t* keeps this thread just at this critical point pressed closely against the outer edge of the shanks of the needles, so that the latches oithe-long-butt needles do not engage it. This explanation of the e'iliciency of this extra sinker-camis that'which best agrees with our, observation oi the working oi the machine. It must be understood, however, that it is merely advanced as an opinion and that our claim for the use of this cam is based upon its proved ellic'icncy irrespective of whether our explanation of the method of its operation be correct or not.

Where, as in the mechanism just described,

long and short butt needles are interspersed in alternating groups among each other for the purpose of striping, it is impossible to employ this distinction between the lengths of the butts, as is otherwise often done, for the pur o se of effecting the separation of the hal -back series, which during the fashioning operation'rnust be separated from the rest oi" the needles and be raised to the idle level.

We have therefore devised a novel form of switch-up cam for the purpose of raising the half-back nee'rlles which in its action is inde- )endent of a: r difference between the-neele-bu'tts and which we Will now'briefiy describe.

An arm V is pivoted upon the bracket '0. Its free end has an inward projection 2 (see 10) and an outer projection z. p The former passes through a slot in the cam-cylinder into the planet of the needle-butts, where it carries the cam-surface ac, provided with a small bevel edge :12 at the upper end. The

contact with projection 2 raising arm V. A

. trigger-arm R swings on a pivot r and is pro-- vided with a notch r and a coiled spring 1' which keeps this notch constantly pressed in the direction of the-arm V. Accordingly when the arm is raised by the action of the cam incline g it IS engaged by the notch oi the trigger and maintained in this position until approximately a half-rotation of the cylinder has occurred. Its release is effected by the downwardly-prqectmg end a of a cross-p1cce a, set on post N mounted on the other end of the lever P. This coming into contact with a boss 7* on the upper end r of the triggei arm is engaged by it, with the re-- sult of releasing the arm V, which iinrnediateiy falls under the tension of its spring, An

arm K is pivoted outside the cam-cyiinder and is constantly depressed by the'coiled spring The free end ofthis arm carries a pro ect1on k wlnch reaches into the cam cylinder, terminating in a triangular sortingcam,'-which is a short distance in advance of a fixed cam M. Bythe act1on of these two cams any needles which the depression of the switch-up cam may leave in an intermediate position are accurately sorted and thrown either completely up or completely down. The switch-down cam to accompany this niechanisrn may be of any known iorm-as for instance, the cam W. (Shown in 1.)

Having thus described our invention, we claim I 1. In a circular-knitting machine a card cylinder fitted with two substantially parallel stitch-cams in proximity to each other and with a common return-way; means for sortmg the needles into groups and deflecting said groups alternately into the range of one or other of said stitch-cams; and two thread-v guides each in position to feed its thread only to the needles which are depressed by one of said stitch-cams, substantially as described.

2. In a circular-knitting machine a needlecylinder fitted with needles having long and short butts and arranged in alternating groups; a cam-cylinder with a set of recipro- IOU catory knitting-cams, of which that stitchcam which leads during rotary knitting is provided with a transverse channelof partial depth, across which the short-butt needles pass; while the long-butt needles are defiected over the earn; a supplemental stitch-cam intern'iediately placed with reference to the regular stitch-cams and having its cam incline substantirly' parallel to that of the following stitch-cam; and two thread-guides, one of which is in position to feed its thread only into the shortebutt'needles as they are depressed by the supplemental stitch-earn, andv the other of which is in position to feed its thread only into the long-butt needles as they are depressed by the following stitch cam, substantially as described.

3. In a knitting machine, a striping device consisting of long and short butt needles arranged in alternating groups; a regular stitch-cam; a supplemental stitch-cam a Shoal} distance in advance of thejregular' stitch-earn and having a necdle-depressing cam-surfadc substantially parallel to but not reaching to the height of the corresponding surface of the regular stitch-cam; means" whereby only the long butt needles are passed over the supplemental stitch-cam, whereby the two sets of needles are simulta neously depressed in parallel relation to each othcr-the long-butt needles by the regular SilllL(7l'l'(ftLm---Ll1(l the short-butt needles by the snmulemental stitclecam; and two separate tlnewl-gnidcs corresponding to the i re stitch-cams and each feeding its thread only to the set of needles which is depressed by its stitch-cant 4. In a eircular-l nitting lnachine a, needlecylinder fitted with needles having long and i cam; a supplemental stiteh'cam intermedigroups; a camaaylinder with a ately placed with reference to, the regular stitch-cams and having its earn inclinesubstantially parallel to that of the following stitch-cam; two tln'ead guides, one of which is in position to feed its thread only into the short-butt needles as they'are depressed by the supplemental stitch-cam, and the other ol" which is in position to feed its thread only into the long-butt needles as they are depressed by the l'ollowing stitch-mum substantially as described.

In a cireular-knitting machine a needlecylinder fitted with needles having long and short butts and arranged in alternating set of reciprocatory knitting-cams, of which that stitchcam which leads during rotary knitting is provided with a transverse channel of partial depth, across which -the short-butt needles pass, while the long-butt needles are dellected over the cam a supplemental stitchcam interlnediately placed with rel'erci'ice to the regular stitch-cams and having its cam inclinesubstantially parallel to that of the' following stitch-cam; two thread-guides, one of which is in position to feed its thread only into the short-buttneedles as they are (he pressed by the supplemental stitch-cam, and

the other of which is in position to feed its' thread only into the long-butt needles as they are depressed by the lollowm'g st1tehcam; and a raising-cam in advance of said rc eiprmcatmy knittingwam; immediately following by a corresponding depressirig-cam, substantially as described.

(3. in a circular-knitting machine a mum cylinder titted with lel stitch-cams in close proximity to each other and having a common return-way; mcansl'or sorting the'l'medles into groups and dcllecting said groups alternately into the rang ol' one or the other of said stitch-cams, by virtue i-l' which those needles which are deflected into the range of the llrst of the two two substantially paralstitcl1cams are not previously raised sni'lieiently to throw the loops which they carry below their latches; a raising-camin advance of both said stitch-cams and the sorting means, whereby all time needles are advanced su'fliciently to throw the loops which they carry below their latches: anda depressingcam immediately hullowing said raising-cam, whereby they are all returned to the normal level before reaching said sorting means, substantially as described.

7. In a eircula'r-knitting machine fitted with a set of reciprocatory knitting-cams a raising cam in advance ol that one of the reeiproeatory set which leads during fall knitting; a removable depressing-cam innnedi ately following said raisingcam, which when in position returns all oithe needles before they reach the reciproeatory set; sorting means whereby some of the needles are passed across the leading stitch-cam without being advanced by it, whilethe other needles are advanced by it in the regular 'ay; a supplemental stitch-cam intermediately placed with relation to the regular stitcli-eams of the reciprocatory set whereby those needles which have been passed across the leading stitch-cam are depressed in a separate line from those wlneh are depressed by the following stitclpcam; and two threadgnidcs each feeding a separate thread into the two lines of descending needles, substantially as described.

8. ln a circular-l nittin; machine a needlecylinder fitted with needles having long and short butts and arranged in alternating groups; a cam-cylinder with a setof reciprocatory knitting-cams-ol' which that stitch-cam which leads during fall knitting is provided with a transverse channel of partial depth across which the slnrrt-butt needles are led without preliminary advance by the leading stitch-cam, while the long-butt needles are 'thus'advanccd; a supplemental stitch-cam intermeiliately placed with reference to the regular stitch-cams ol' the reciprm-atory set, the-upper edge of which reaches only to those needles which have l'ailcd to advance by rea son of their having been led across the transverse channel ol' the leading stitch-cam; a

movable raising-cam in advance of the reeip rocatory set whereby when it is set in its position all of the needles may be caused to pass over the leading stitch-cam; and two threadguides l'ceding separate threads the one into the needles which are depressed by the supplemental stitch-earn, and thcothcr into the needles which are depressed by the regular following stitch-cam, substantially as described.

' 9. In a eircular-l nitting machine a cameylinder fitted, with a set of reciproeatory knitting-cams; means whereby certain of the needles are passed across the leading stitch cam, withoutprelmnnaryadvanee by it; a

supplemental stitch-cam whereby these needles are depressed in a separate line from those which after passing over the leading stitch-cam are depressed by the following stitchcam;.and two threaduides at difi'erent heights, the lowermost e which feeds its thread to the needles which are depressed by the special stitch-cam, while the other feeds its thread to the needles which are depressed by the regular following stitch-ca1n, substantially as described.

10. In a circular-knitting machine a camcylinder fitted with a-set of .reeiprocatory knittingseams means whereby certain of the needles are passed across the leading stitchcam, without preliminaryadvance by it; a supplemental stitch-cam whereby these needles are depressed in a separate line from those which after passing over the leading stitchcam ,are depressed by the following stitchcam; two separate thread-guides, one feeding its thread to the needles which are depressed by the special stitch-cam, and the other feeding its thread to the needles which are depressed by the regular following stitch-ca1n and a sinker-ring provided with sinkers, with 'means whereby the sinkers are temporarily advanced in the region of the point where the thread which is fed to the needles which are I depressed by the special stitch-cam is knit, substantially as described.

11. In a circular-knitting machine a camcylinder fitted with a set of reciproeatory knitting-cams; a special stitch-cam intermediately placed between the regular stitchcams of the reciprocatory set; means whereby certain of the needles are deflected across 1 the face of the leading stitch-cam without bel-ng advanced by it and into the range of thespecial stitch-cam; while the other needles after being advanced by the leading stitchcain are depressed by the following stitch cam in the usual manner, and two threadguides cooperating the one with the needles which are actuated by the special stitch-cam, and the other with the needles which are actuated by the following stitch-cam, whereby separate threads are fed into each set for the production of striped knitting; substantially as described. 7 12. In a circular-knitting machine a cam.-

cylinder fitted with a set of reciprocatory stitch-cam are depressed by the followingstitch-cam in the usual manner; and a raising and depressing cam in advance of the set of reciproetory knitting-cams, whereby all of the needles are preliminarily advanced and returned, and two thread-guldes cooperating the one with the needles which are actuated by the special stitch-cam, and the other with the needles which are actuated by the following stitch-cam, whereby separate threads are fed into each set for the production ofstriped knitting; substantially as described.

13. In a circular-knitting machine a camcylinder fitted with a set of reciprocatory knitting-earns; a special stitch-cam intermediately, placed between the regular stitchcams of the reciprocatory set; means whereby certain of the needles are deflected across the face of the leading stitch-cam without being advanced by it and into the range of the special stitch-cam; while the other needles after being advanced by the leading stitcheam are depressed by the following stitchcam in the usual manner; a sinker-ring fitted with a special sinker-cam, whereby the sinkers are temporarily advanced in the region each set .for the production of striped'knit-. ting; substantially as described.

In witness whereof we, JOHN B. PAXTON and thus I. ONEILL, have hereunto signed our names with two subscribing witnesses.

l JOHN B. PAXTON. ELLIS r. O.NEILL.

Witnesses:

JAMES- H. BELL, J M. K. TRUMBORE. 

